§ 44. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Labour whether any progress is being made towards the reduction of overtime working?
§ Mr. E. BROWNIn the discussions my predecessor and myself have had with the representatives in the various industries we have emphasised the necessity of restricting overtime working to a minimum and my information is that increasing efforts are being made to this end. The hon. Member will appreciate, however, that when industry is on the upgrade it becomes more difficult to avoid the working of overtime to a certain extent. I regret that I have no comprehensive statistical information concerning the amount of overtime worked.
§ Mr. BROWNNaturally, but the hon. Member will understand that we are carrying out a very extensive series of consultations with all sides of the industries, and they reveal a very complicated situation.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that about the only place where there is any belief that there is a reduction of overtime working in this country is on the Ministerial benches, and that so far as employers and workers are concerned there is no doubt that there is excessive overtime working?